During her study period, Song drove to several cities, such as Orlando, Atlanta and Maryland. Her most memorable US driving experience was a 17-hour journey from Austin to Phoenix, crossing three states.

"Young For You, a song by Gala, played again and again on my car's tape player, while trees, deserts and cactuses passed by. It was really fantastic," she said.

"When I was tired at night, I stopped the car and climbed onto the roof. Lying on my back and looking at stars quickly made me forget my driver's fatigue."

Song believes self-driving tours will become an increasingly important contributor to Sino-US tourism, especially among young people and those seeking adventure. She said visitors can enhance their experience by relying on well-planned routes and good understanding of the strict US traffic rules: "If not, you may find yourself in trouble."

Driving safe

Beijing resident Wang Yifei has been on two self-driving trips in the US. She stressed the importance of understanding the rules of the road.

"Although traffic rules are much the same all over the world, minor differences are very important because they mainly relate to safety," she said, adding that Chinese drivers must learn to be patient in traffic jams and should always adhere to the prescribed speed limits.

Wang was pulled over by the police for a traffic violation in Yosemite National Park. "I used a safety lane to overtake a car in front of me that I thought was moving too slowly. As I passed the slower vehicle, a police car sounded its alarm and I was pulled over. I had no idea about the traffic laws in the US and the police officer criticized me severely. Luckily, I wasn't fined," she said.

Differences in etiquette may also confuse Chinese drivers. Liu Jing was asked to pay $120 because he failed to wash and refuel his car before returning it to the rental agency.

"You can rent a car when you get off the plane, and some agencies even provide services in Chinese. But washing and refueling the car before returning it is a must - it's an unbreakable rule," he said. To avoid unnecessary problems, Liu suggested tourists pay close attention to every requirement for car rental under US traffic law.

He called for Chinese car rental agencies to offer information to customers about the laws and related regulations in different states.

"In China, drivers just slow down when they see a stop sign, but in the US the sign means 'full stop'. If you disobey and fail to stop, you'll face a heavy fine, at the very least," he said. "Learn the rules and stay safe."